Rev. Robert Potter

(1721-1804)

Born in Somersetshire, Robert Potter entered Emmanuel College Cambridge as a sizar in 1737 (B.A. 1742, M.A. 1788). He succeeded Richard Hurd as curate of Rymerston (1742) where he seems to have resided, was Vicar of Melton parva, Norwich (1746-70), master of Scarning School (1761-89), Vicar of Lowestoft (1789-1804) and canon of Norwich (1788-1804). Potter's translations of Aeschylus became famous; his lesser-known Art of Criticism presents poet-by-poet criticism on Johnson's Lives, with a concluding dialogue between Johnson and Joseph Warton.

Retirement, an epistle. To the Rev. Dr. Hurd. 1748.A farewell hymne to the country. 1749.Holkham. A poem. To the Right Honourable The Earl of Leicester. 1758.On the pretended inspiration of the Methodists: a sermon. 1758.Kymber. A monody. To Sir Armine Wodehouse. 1759.To Sir A. Wodehouse, Bart. 1759.The choice of Apollo: a serenata. 1765.The hobby horse: a characteristical satire on the times. 1766.A letter to John Buxton ... on the contests relative to the ensuing election for the county of Norfolk. 1768.The history of the adventures of Arthur O'Bradley. 2 vols, 1769.The curate of Coventry: a tale. 1771.Poems. 1774.Observations on the poor laws. 1775.The tragedies of Aeschylus, translated. 1777.The tragedies of Euripides, translated. 1781.An inquiry into some passages in Dr. Johnson's Lives of the poets. 1783.The oracle concerning Babylon. And the song of exultation. From Isaiah, Chap. XIII. and XIV. 1785.The tragedies of Sophocles, translated. 1788.The art of criticism; as exemplified in Dr. Johnson's lives of the most eminent English poets. 1789.A sermon preached before ... the Mayor of Norwich. 1793.A sermon for the first of June. 1800.